Roasted Duck by Pa Ord
Thai restaurant · East Hollywood
5136 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Highlights
Juicy, flavorful roast duck & Thai dishes in a tiny spot
Juicy, flavorful roast duck & Thai dishes in a tiny spot
"Roasted Duck by Pa Ord, which sits in the same space as the original Pa Ord opened by Lawan Bhanduram more than two decades ago, is a study of a restaurant with a singular, near-obsessive focus. The namesake dish permeates all sections of the menu: served with golden grains of fried rice, submerged in soup or herbaceous green curry, studded with bright chiles and basil leaves, and nestled alongside jade noodles and sauces. Perhaps for security, diners can also order dishes with chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp, but the headliner is clearly duck that arrives with its glistening, crackling skin smothered in a gravy-like sauce, falling apart at the touch. Chef Bob Vongsanikul, tapped by Bhanduram to open the restaurant, prepares each dish to order in the narrow, buttery space, and seats most of its visitors at the counter (a row of crispy ducks waiting to be cut hangs on a rack in the foreground). The duck special for one — sliced roasted duck, vegetables, a vinegary soy sauce with chiles, and a side dish like jade noodles or rice — is enough to serve two, giving the place a high affordability factor, too. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager Know before you go: The seating at Roasted Duck by Pa Ord is very limited, so be prepared to take the duck home, or head down the street to Barndsall Park for a picnic." - Mona Holmes
"Pa Ord, or Auntie Ord, is a household name in LA for her impeccable boat noodles. And now she has a duck specialty shop to add to her impressive mini-chain of Pa Ord Noodle restaurants. As the name suggests, the menu is entirely focused on roasted duck, which comes with either steamed rice or noodles. Portion sizes are available for single diners, as well as “family meals” that feed up to four. Also on the menu are stewed duck noodle soup, holy basil stir-fried with duck, spicy duck salad, and duck green curry." - Kat Thompson
"Roasted Duck by Pa Ord, which sits in the same space as the original Pa Ord that owner Lawan Bhanduram opened more than two decades ago, is a study of a restaurant with a singular, near-obsessive focus. The namesake dish permeates all sections of the menu: served with golden grains of fried rice, submerged in soup or herbaceous green curry, studded with bright chiles and basil leaves, and nestled alongside jade noodles and sauces. Perhaps for security, diners can also order dishes with chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp, but the headliner is clearly duck, which arrives with its glistening, crackling skin smothered in a gravy-like sauce, falling apart at the touch. Chef Bob Vongfanikul, tapped by Bhanduram to open this restaurant, prepares each dish to order in the narrow space, and seats most of its visitors at the counter (a row of crispy ducks waiting to be cut hangs on a rack in its foreground). The duck special for one — sliced roasted duck, vegetables, a vinegary soy sauce with chiles, and a side dish like jade noodles or rice — is enough to serve two, which gives the place a high affordability factor, too. — Nicole Adlman, Eater cities manager" - Eater Staff
"Fantastic, irreverent reinvention of the original Pa Ord location." - Eater Staff
"This tiny spot in Thai Town is a duck-centric spinoff of our beloved Pa Ord, but unlike most spinoffs, it’s just as great as the original. There are just two tables and a few bar seats, but they all offer a view of Daffy’s personal hell: a tall oven full of glistening roasted birds. You can order your duck over rice, stir-fried, or in a spicy soup, but our pick is the classic carved duck set with garlic oil noodles. The meat is visibly juicy when squeezed, and cut into neat slices with soft, fatty skin—dip them in sweet reduced duck broth and soy-chili sauce for maximum effect. If you don’t want dinner with wings, the pounded-to-order papaya salad and crispy pork belly hold their own, too." - nikko duren, brant cox, sylvio martins
